̽����ѡ

Politicians, bigots, pipelines, Arby’s . . . there’s nothing that Jon Stewart can’t crush with his wisdom and wit. After 16 years at the helm of The Daily Show, the respected comedian will air his much-anticipated finale tonight. Those mourning his departure—including President Obama, who jokingly issued an last month barring him from leaving—have focused most of their attention on his harsh and . Yet he and his fake news team have also proven themselves to be defenders and non-serious offenders of nature.  

Here are six times The Daily Show charged into conversations about the environment, guns blazing.

Drill, Baby, Drill (aired 8/6/08):

During the 2008 U.S. presidential race Stewart lamented the sudden push for offshore drilling to combat soaring gas prices. But as he and even the candidates pointed out, revoking the ban on drilling wouldn’t help prices at the pump. Plus, it would further increase the country's dependence on fossil fuels. 

Climate Change Denial, Round 1 (aired 9/22/14):

After the massive “” took place in New York City, Stewart skewered politicians who still didn’t accept the science behind climate change. Stewart went on to show that then-congressman Steve Stockman of Texas, who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology, appeared to understand nothing about science at all.

Climate Change Denial, Round 2 (aired 3/25/15):

In a segment titled “La la la … climate change doesn’t exist … la la la,” Stewart mocked people who don’t believe temperatures are rising by citing that last winter was the warmest on record. He also took aim at Florida Governor Rick Scott, who allegedly banned state employees from using the words “global warming” or “climate change.”

Gay Penguins (aired 3/11/04):

Just before Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex human couples, The Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee did an exposé on same-sex penguin couples at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Her conclusion: Homosexual behavior is common among animals at zoos and in nature—some people just don’t want to believe it. 

Birdwatchers Gone Wild (aired 7/18/00):

Though they weren’t one of Stewart’s favorite targets—George W. Bush and Fox News are tied for that title—birders didn’t get a pass from him or his crew. Here, Steve Carell compares the “World Series of Birding” in New Jersey to more adrenaline-pumping sports, and even learns how to beckon a Virginia Rail to his side.

Birds >>> People (aired 1/24/11):

Apparently, this historically black town in Mississippi, which was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and long victim to eminent domain seizures and industrial dumping, values its birds more than its black citizens. This shocked correspondent Wyatt Cenac (who got more love walking around in a bird costume than in a suit). Cenac also interviewed Mark LaSalle, director of the Pascagoula River ̽����ѡ Center, who played along as a kind of patron saint of birds.